Safeguarding Policy
Organisation Details
Name: Stoke Hill Community Association.
Address: St Katherine’s Priory,
St Katherine’s Road,
Exeter,
EX4 7JY.
Email Address: st.katherinespriory@gmail.com
Website: St Katherines Priory
Stoke Hill Community Association
Registered Charity No: 283907
Purpose
Stoke Hill Community Association (hereafter SHCA) manages St Katherine’s Priory, St Katherine’s Road, Exeter, EX4 7JY as a multi-use, multi generational community centre that is widely used by the people of Stoke Hill and surrounding areas.
Our constitution identifies our object as:
To promote the benefit of the inhabitants of Stoke Hill and the neighbourhood without distinction.
To advance education and provide facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation and leisure-time occupation with the object of improving the conditions of life for said inhabitants.
To this end we organise SHCA events and also hire out our facilities to a range of organisations, some of which offer provision to children, young people & vulnerable adults. We recognise our responsibility in ensuring that these organisations uphold an adequate safeguarding policy and have a named person for safeguarding.
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Safeguarding Statement
- SHCA is committed to safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults.
- SHCA recognises the need to provide a safe and caring environment for children, young people and adults. We acknowledge that children, young people and adults can be the victims of different types of abuse and neglect. We accept the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant of Human Rights, which states that everyone is entitled to “all the rights and freedoms set forth therein, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status”.
- SHCA has therefore adopted the procedures set out in this safeguarding policy in accordance with statutory guidance. We are committed to building constructive links with statutory and voluntary agencies involved in safeguarding.
- SHCA is committed to:
- Valuing, listening to and respecting children, young people and vulnerable adults, as well as promoting their welfare and protection;
- Appointing a nominated safeguarding lead and a member of the trustee board who takes lead responsibility for safeguarding at the highest level in the organisation;
- Ensuring that all staff, volunteers, members and facility users understand and follow the safeguarding policy;
- Ensuring children, young people and vulnerable adults, and their families know about SHCA’s safeguarding policy and what to do if they have a concern;
- Building a safeguarding culture where staff, volunteers, members and facility users know how they are expected to behave and feel comfortable about sharing concerns.
- Implementing a procedure for dealing with concerns regarding safeguarding;
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- Signposting, referring to and maintaining effective partnerships with statutory childcare authorities and other safeguarding organisations.
- SHCA will give equal priority to keeping all children, young people and vulnerable adults safe regardless of their age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation. In doing this we will also recognise the additional needs of people and the barriers they may face, for example with communication or the impact of discrimination.
- SHCA will require a DBS check when appropriate to do so if the particular role involves regular work with children, young people or vulnerable adults.
- SHCA takes safeguarding very seriously and ensures that all organisations using St Katherine’s Priory are similarly committed to safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults. SHCA will ensure that each organisation that uses St Katherine’s Priory upholds their own robust safeguarding policy by insisting that:
- They give the SHCA Secretary a copy of their own Safeguarding Policy which must meet current safeguarding standards and be in agreement with this policy.
- They provide the SHCA Secretary with the name of their designated safeguarding person.
- They sign a letting agreement which makes clear that they are responsible for safeguarding children, young people & vulnerable adults in any group or activity which they provide.
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Definitions
Abuse is a selfish act of oppression and injustice, exploitation and manipulation of power by those in a position of authority. This can be caused by those inflicting harm or those who fail to act to prevent harm. Abuse is not restricted to any socio-economic group, gender or culture. It can take a number of forms, including the following:
- Physical abuse
- Sexual abuse
- Psychological or Emotional abuse
- Neglect
- Financial or material abuse
- Child Sexual Exploitation
- Modern Slavery
- Self-Neglect
- Domestic Abuse
- Institutional Abuse
- Discriminatory Abuse
- Harassment
- Radicalisation
Definition of a child and young person
A child and young person is under the age of 18 (as defined in the United Nations convention on the Rights of a Child).
Definition of a vulnerable adult
A vulnerable adult is a person aged 18 years or over who may be unable to take care of themselves or protect themselves from harm or from being exploited.
This may include a person who: Is elderly and frail; Has a mental illness including dementia; Has a physical or sensory disability; Has a learning disability; Has a severe physical illness; Is a substance misuser; Is homeless.
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Responsibilities
All staff and volunteers have a responsibility to follow the guidance laid out in this policy and related policies, and to pass on any welfare concerns using the required procedures.
We expect all staff and volunteers to promote good practice by being an excellent role model, contribute to discussions about safeguarding and to positively involve people in developing safe practices.
Additional specific responsibilities
The Executive Committee and Trustees have responsibility to ensure that this Safeguarding Policy is:
- Accessible to all staff, volunteers, members and users of SHCA facilities
- Implemented
- Monitored and Reviewed
The Designated Safeguarding Lead is: Tim Payne.
The Safeguarding Trustee is: Lesley Robson.
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Responding Appropriately
to an Allegation or Suspicion of Abuse
Devon County Council (the local authority) has a process for reporting and this must be followed.
It is, of course, the right of any individual as a citizen to make a direct referral to the safeguarding agencies.
In an emergency always call 999
Child and Young Person Safeguarding
Devon Children and Families Partnership guidance on reporting: If you are concerned about the safety of a child in Devon and want to speak to someone, contact our Multi-Agency Hub (MASH) on 0345 155 1071 or email mashsecure@devon.gov.uk
For further information:
Devon Children and Families Partnership: www.dcfp.org.uk/
Adult Safeguarding
Devon Safeguarding Adults Partnership guidance on reporting: If you, or someone you know, is being abused or neglected you can raise a safeguarding concern by calling Care Direct on 0345 1551 007 or emailing csc.caredirect@deveon.gov.uk
Care Direct is open Monday to Friday 8am-8pm and Saturday 9am-1pm, and outside of these hours call 0845 6000 388 or email the address above.
For further information:
Devon Safeguarding Adults Partnership:
www.devonsafeguardingadultspartnership.org.uk/
In an emergency always call 999
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Communicating the Safeguarding Policy and Procedure
SHCA will make staff, volunteers, members and facility users aware of the Safeguarding Policy through the SHCA website, on-site in the Policies and Procedures file and through letting agreements.
Reviewing
This policy will be reviewed annually, and more often if required if there are changes in circumstances or legal requirements.
This policy will be reviewed by the Safeguarding Lead and Safeguarding Trustee and presented to the full Executive Committee and Trustees meeting for agreement.
This policy was last reviewed on: 10th March 2021
Signed: Tim Payne (Interim Chair)
Date: 10/03/2021
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